I recently stopped eating chips and chocolate bars; I used to eat them without even acknowledging how much I was eating. I gained 5 pounds in two and half weeks. Possible predisposing factors?: removal of four feet of small intestine apx 17yrs ago due to acute scar tissue over growth + diet of vegetarian, apx 6months ago, with exception of small amounts of cream in store bought coffees. I'm not writing this to boast, I really would like an opinion as to why I'm all of a sudden gaining weight once I stop eating chocolate and chips. Previous weight 110lbs, weight now 115lbs, height 5'6. Small boned. No medical diagnosis, actually very healthy.

Are you aware of any excessive belly fat with the 5 pounds added, or do you get more muscle mass instead? Believe gaining weight is good news for you if you become more muscular. While you drop chips and choco, you may consume more of the other stuff e.g. milk, pancakes, cereals, tofu, etc. Maybe you can keep a daily food consumption log. It will help. How about your daily activity level? Has it been changed in the last few weeks? How well do you sleep every night? All these will also affect your metabolic rate and thus your weight.

First, let me say that your weight is in a healthy range. In fact, it's on the low end of the healthy range of BMI, even with the 5 pound weight gain. It's actually not uncommon for people to gain weight as a vegetarian until they learn how to balance the nutrients, particularly the carbs with the proteins. Based on what you say you normally eat, I would say your diet is very carb heavy. I'd work in getting in a little protein with every meal/snack. There are still quite a few options as a vegetarian. You just have to make a bit more of a point of including them. I would start steering more towards protein and vegetables and a bit of fruit as well to round it out. I'm talking more in terms of how to eat a healthy diet and not about weight loss for you because you don't need to lose weight based on your height and weight. Just start swapping out some of the starchy foods in your diet with vegetables and more protein and I think you'd be better off nutritionally. But otherwise, sounds like you're doing great.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Message Boards are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Message Boards are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Message Boards as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.